Fish Auctions
Fish Auctions: A free, open-source auction system for clubs running online, in-person, or hybrid events. Ranked #23 of 33 in Auction Software by our editors (7.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for self-hosted free auctions.
At a glance
- Editor score7.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSelf-hosted free auctions
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Auction formatsBoth
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports online, in-person, and hybrid auction formats
- Includes proxy bidding, reserves, buy-now prices, and approvals
- Generates invoices and supports Square, PayPal exports, and CSV data
Where it doesn't
- PayPal support uses invoice export rather than direct payment processing
- Focused on fish, reptile, amphibian, and related community auctions
- Available platforms are limited to web and self-hosted deployments
Our verdict on Fish Auctions
Fish Auctions is a free web-based auction platform for fish clubs and aquarium communities. It supports auctions for fish, reptiles, amphibians, food cultures, and related supplies, with options for online, in-person, and hybrid events. Clubs can manage users and lots, approve sellers and bidders, set reserve and buy-now prices, accept proxy bids, generate invoices, coordinate multiple pickup locations, and export auction statistics as CSV files. The hosted auction.fish service and open-source project give organizations a choice between a managed web deployment and self-hosting.
The pricing model is straightforward: the hosted service is free, and the software is also available as open source. Its payment and ecosystem coverage includes Square, PayPal, Google Maps, Google sign-in, reCAPTCHA, Mailchimp, Google Calendar, and Discord. Square payment support is available for approved accounts, while PayPal workflows use invoice export. That combination covers core auction administration, communications, scheduling, location coordination, and payments, but organizations expecting a single fully integrated payment flow should review the distinction between Square and PayPal before choosing a setup.
Fish Auctions stands out through its focus on community auction operations rather than general-purpose commerce. Multi-location support, seller controls, bidder approvals, proxy bidding, automatic invoices, and hybrid bidding fit clubs that need to coordinate recurring events and pickups. The trade-off is a narrower audience and a smaller platform footprint than broader auction systems: deployments are web-based or self-hosted, and the product is specifically shaped around aquatic and related hobby communities. Choose it for a free club auction platform with open-source flexibility; consider an alternative if you need wider marketplace coverage or payment processing beyond its supported workflows.
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Fish Auctions pricing
Fish Auctions fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Auction formats | Both |
| Automatic bidding | Yes |
| Seller accounts | Yes |
| Payment processing | Yes |
| Custom domain | Yes |
| API access | Not verified |
| Listing limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: PayPal, Square, Google Maps, Google sign-in, reCAPTCHA, Mailchimp … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | auction.fish |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Fish Auctions integrations
Fish Auctions lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- PayPal
- Square
- Google Maps
- Google sign-in
- reCAPTCHA
- Mailchimp
- Google Calendar
- Discord
Alternatives to Fish Auctions
- AuctionMethodA broad auction platform for growing businesses that need online, live, and integrated sales.9.4
- Auction FlexA broad auction back office with cataloging, bidding, payments, and checkout in one system.9.2
- RocketBidA broad auction-management platform for houses running timed, live, and simulcast sales.9.1
See all Fish Auctions alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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